Pneumatic coal cleaner



Nov. 24, 1936.

A. G. OPPY PNEUMATIC COAL CLEANER O OO O O I Q o o0 Oo o O o N o 000000'000000000000000*000 OO'OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO oooooo ooooooooooooooooaooooo 00000000 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO O0 OO OO OOOO OOO'O O-OOOOO OOO O0OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 0 OO O 00 0 000000 OOO'OOOOOOOOOQOOQOOQOOQ0'090000 OOO 0000 0 O O OO O 000000 00000 OOOOCO00000000000OOQOOO-OOOO0O o N0V 24, 1936- A. G. oPPY PNEUMATIC COAL CLEANER Filed March 2, 1933 4 Sheets-Shet 2 lwwwml Nov. 24, 1936. A Q Oppy l PNEUMATIC COAL CLEANER Filed March 2, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 24, 1936.-

A. G. OF'PY PNEUMATIC IGOAL CLEANER Filed March 2, 195s 4 sheets-sheet 4 7j/ fra/fi ilo/ V 47 Patented Nov. 24, 1936. 2,0621

14 claims.' (ci. zoe-46s) This invention relatesto machines for cleaning deck, the bars being arranged serially to conslack` or fine coal from one inch to a fraction in form to the variation in the slant or curvature of size by removing such free foreign matter therethe deck, impurities passing downward between from as is g'ravimetrically heavier than the coal these bars and passing down the deck beneath the and constitutes in certain features an improuebars. 5 ment upon my former Patent 1,792,440 granted Fourth-The provision of a trap or depression February 10, 1931. The invention relates parat the lower end of the deck in which the slate ticularly to a cleaner in which air is used as a or other impurities collect', this collection of these y notation medium to support a bed of co'al while impurities at this point squeezing out the light the bed is moving gradually toward its discharge A coalparticles under the action of gravity. 10

point, the supporting or `flotation medium per- Fifth-The provision of a mechanically opermitting th'e descent ofthe heavierl foreign parated -gate at the discharge end of each deck, actticles to a4 position below the bed of coal. ing intermittently to permit only a portion of the The"'demads of the coal tradel require a byrefuse t0 be dumped at each Opening Ofthe gate.

product slack' whenever pessime and a' Stoker thus'providing for a controlled refuse'discharge 15 slack where the inherent properties of the coal 0I` removal Which iS entirely DOSitiVe 111 its action do not permit a by-product to result. A reducand is adjustable to variations of raw feed ash tion in high ash orhigh Waste products to a encountered from dilerent mines and dumping salable ash is also demanded and it is required into the same tipple. Q that these results shall be accomplished with a Other objeetS'Wll appear in. the course of the 20 low moisture content. These many requirements following description.

present a problem very dilcult of solution and it My inventen iS illustrated in the COmpaDyis the general'objeot, therefore, of this invention ing drawings, wherein: to provide a coa1 cleaning machine which ex- Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved perience and tests have shown, will secure this 602.1 Cleaner; 25

result. Figure 2 is a side view thereof These results are secured by certain novel Figure 3 iS avertieal, 4longitudinal.SeetiOn features which will now be stated. Figure 4 is anenlarged sectional View of the First-The coal to be cleaned is passed 'as a gate Structure and portion 0f the deck adjacent;

thin ribbon or layer over a perforated deck or Figure 5 iS a Section 0n the lile 5-5 0f Figure 30 series of decks, each deck having a constantly 3; y decreasing slant or curvaturaveach deck being Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figrelatively steep at its entrance end and nearly ure 3: i y horizontal'at its discharge end, the coal and slate Figure 7 isa section on the line 1--1' of Fig- '35 while passing over the 'deck being supported by an ure 3; 35 air blast. f Figures 8, 9, l0, and 11 are diagrammatic edge Second-The several decks are vibrated vertielevatiens Off different forms 0f decks. cally and longitudinally, the vibrations decreas- Referring to these drawings, I0 designates paring from the entrance end of each deck toward allel channel iron beams constitutinga channel `40y the discharge end thereof and from the iirst lr'onframe having the transverse members II'at 40 deck of the series to the last or, in other words, its ends, the intermediate transverse members I2 the amplitude of the vibration decreases from l and being supported by the supporting timbers the origin `of the flow tov its discharge. :More -I3. This -frame is disposed at an angle to the particularly, in this'connection, the cleaner has horizontal. Disposed above this supporting i6 a vibration of about one-eighth of an inch at or frame is a hopper. designated generally I4 having 45' near the:y high end or feed end, the rapidity of side walls I5 which extend longitudinally the enthese vibrations being such as necessary for the tire lengthof the machine and are provided at wettest coal to be treated. 'Ihe discharge end of their upper margins with the outwardly ,turned the cleaner is swingingly mounted sorthat amoiianges I6 for a purpose to be later stated., 'I'his '50 tion of diminishing magnitude is secured from hopper or shoe is supported along its lower mar- 50 the entrance end to the discharge end, which acts gin upon the two parallel channelsfl'l which con-f In conjunction withthe slopedof decreasing grade stitute refuse chutes (see Figure 7*) 'Ihese chanto make a cleaning result grading from a relanels as illustrated in Figure 2. extend beyondthe .tively violent action to a gentle and very sensitive forward edge of the shoe Il and may or may not,

g treatment, thus securing the eiect that all kinds as desired, extend to the rear or entrance end of 55 .of refuse and pieces of various size must separate this shoe. As illustrated, they terminate short and the refuse sink at those lpoints where ideal of this entrance end. Each of these channels or conditions for such settlement exist. refuse chutes I1 is Apivotally supported at its for- Thirdr-'Ihel provision of transversely extendward end upon a link I8 which is pivotally mounting -i-etarding bars above'the ed at I9 upon the correspondingbeam 'IDR Supported in suitable bearings 20 upon the beams l adjacent the rear ends of the channels I] is a transverse shaft 2| driven .by any suitable means' and carrying an eccentric 22. Each of these channels carries 'an eccentric ring 23 which coacts with the eccentric 22 and thus as the ec- -centrics are rotated, the rear ends of the channels and thus the rear end of the shoe are given an oscillating motion of very small amplitude. Under average circumstances the amplitude ofl this lvibration will be only about one-eighth of an inch,

butv it is to be understood, of course, that the ec- .l

' ferent sizes and while I have shown two fan casings, it is to be understood that any number may I have illustrated the fan casing 24 as being connected to a trunk 21 by a rectangular connection 28 of iron o r any other suitable material, this trunk 21 extending upward between the beams ||l and ,being connected by a' flexible coupling 29 to the forward end of theshoe |4. 25 is connected by a coupling 28 to the bottom of the shoe adjacent the discharge end of the shoe.

The shoe, as illustrated, is divided into three compartments by the transverse walls 38, 3|, and

The trunk 2'I-from the fan casing 24 discharges into the first compartment of the series designated '.A and the fan casing 25 discharges into the two compartments designated B and C, it being understood, however, that separate fan casing with its -v fan mightbe used for each ne ofthese compartments A, B and C, or one fan for all compartments.

Y at the discharge side .of each compartment are -the' refuse discharge chuites 33 which are designated alsoby the letters a, b and c to correspond'to the compartments A, B and C to which they Vare related. Disposed over the top of :each compartment but below the upper edges of the side walls I are the several decks 34,

35 and- 36. Thesedecks are perforated so as to jpermitthe. air from the compartments below the Y decks to pass upward through the decks and float the coal'lying upon the decks.

Each of these decks isfcurved downward and forward or Vtoward its discharge end, the curvature being such that the entrance end of each decki is relatively steeply curved while the discharge end of each deck lies nearly in a horizontal` gate at one end is provided with an arm 55,

u this arm being formed in two sections adjustable A plane, asshown diagrammatically in Figures 8 to I. Y This is avery important feature of my invention. Each deck at its discharge 'end is down-l wardly inclined at 31 to form a refuse pocket and u discharging on tc the rst deck 34 is the raw feed chute 38 which formsV the endf wall of the shoe.

The mixed c'oaland slate is discharged on to this chute 38 in any suitable manner and passes downward on to the deck 34 which separates a certain portion of the slate or otherll'p'urities from the ,l coal. 'Ihe impuritiessoseparated gather in the refuse pocket 31.and pass into the corresponding refuse chutea, then the c oal passes over on to the The fan casing passes on to the deck and the refuse therefrom is discharged into the chute c.

Disposed immediately above the curved portion of the deck are a plurality of transversely extending now bars 39 which are supported in the'side wall I5. A nut 44 is threaded on the angular end of the bolt 42 and bears against the fac'e 0f the corresponding angle .iron 4| while 'exteriorly of the wall |5, each bolt carries a washer 45 and a nut 46 Aclamping 'against the wall I5. The upwardly extending portion of the bolt 42 passes through an aperture in theflange i6 'of the wall I5 and is threaded and provided with the two nuts 41 and 48 which clamp upon thislflange.. Thus it will be seen that the ow gaging bars39 may be raised or lowered relative to the corresponding deck so as to space these flow bars just the proper amount from the face ofthe deck. The coal passes over the upper faces of theserflow bars while the slate sinks by.

vlower end extends through a slot 43 formed in Y gate designated generally 48 formed of a strip of metal bent upon itself to surround a transverselyextending shaft. 50.' The inner fold of each gate-is shorter than the outer fold or leaf and provided with an adjustable sweeper 5|,

`The outer leaf or fold of the gate extends downward beyond and normally bears againstv the forward edge of the corresponding deck.

The shaft 50 is vertically adjustable, bearing 52 of this shaft being mounted upon a supporting plate 53 engaged by the lower angular end of a bolt 54 constructed in' the 'same manner as the bolt 42 and extending through the ange I6 and adjstably engaged with this flange in a manner which is obvious from 'Figure 6 so that the shaft of the gate and the gate itself may be raised or.

upon each other and held in adjusted -position extremity of this arm is connected an adjustable link 51 which at its lower end is pivotally connected to an operating-arm 58 pivoted in'any suitable 'manner at 59 and provided with an adjustable plate 6.0 upon which a cam 6| wipes,4

this cam being rotatably mounted upon the side beams l0. There is a cam for each one of these arms 58 and inasmuch 'as there are three gates,

there Will be three arms 58 and three cams.'

anism, though I may use mechanism of this kind' for driving each of the cams, but I have shown for this purpose at 62, 62a and 62h the casing of a selective speed transmission gear which is found upon the market and which forms no partof my invention whereby each cam may be driven at a selected speed and independently of the selected speed of any' other cam. As illustrated, the first cam of the series which operates the gate for the compartment A is driven from a speed transmission gearing, (which may also include a driving motor, if desired), the casing of which is designated 62 by means of a belt, sprocket chain or like element 83 extendingvover a pulley or sprocket wheel 64, the shaft of which carries a small sprocket wheel or pulley 55 fromwhich extends a chain or belt 65' passing over a pulley or sprocket wheel 61 mounted on the shaft of the first cam of the' series. This shaft also carries the pulley or sprocket wheel 58 over which a chain 69 passes over a sprocket 18 to a second speed transmission mechanism 82a having in turn a driven shaft thereon carrying a. sprocket wheel over which passes a sprocket chain or .belt 12 extending over a wheel 13 mounted upon the shaft of the second cam, this shaft carrying a sprocket wheel or belt from which a chain 14 passes to the third speed Vselective gearing box -designated B2b from which by means which will be obvious from the drawings, the power is transmitted to shaft of the third cam of the series. Thus each one .of these three cams '6| may be driven at a diierent speed or at the same speed, if desired. The respective speeds of these cams, of course, determine the length of time duringwhich'the corresponding gates remain open. This period of time may be regulated also by means of the adjustable plate 50.'

The same effect would be secured' by using different formations ofcam for the cams 5l but this would involvev in case any change of time was required the stoppage of the machine and vthe replacement of the cams in use by other cams.

' Thus, it will be seen that the mechanism which I have provided secures the same result without the necessity of stopping the machine by simply changing the speed of any particular cam or all of the cams bymeans of the selective speed transmission` devices contained within the casings 62, 62a and B2b. The arms 55 are held upward and the arms 58 with their plates 68 are held against the cams 6I each lby a spring 15, there being a separate-spring for each arm 55 and corresponding arms 58, these'springs bey ing compression springs and bearing, at their lower ends, against the angle irons 15 attached to the` wall of the shoe. Extending through each of these coiled compression springs 15 is a bolt 11 pivotally connected at its lower endv to 'the corresponding arm 55 and at its upper en d the second fancompartmenty is' connected and carrying a nut 18 bearing against a washer 19 in turn bearing against the coiled compression spring. 'Ihus'the tension of these springs Extending over thetop of each gate is a downwardly extending chute,` these chutes being designated A80. '-I'hek, chutes -atftheir upper.

ends arebent overthe `top of each Agate and .are

supportedfthereon while the lower end of each .chute ybears againstanL lip'.- 81H1',

the cams 8l u formed at the entrance end of the next succeeding deck, the lower end of eachchute beingv held in place by mea'nsoi' the hold-down angle irons 82. Beyond the final deck 38, there is a final discharge chute 83 for thecoal.

It will be seen by reason of the flexible couplings 29 that the shoe maybe oscillated by means of the eccentric 22, these flexible couplings permitting this oscillation without any' disconnection from the blowers or fan casings.

Preferably, the blast from each of these fans or to each of the compartments will be regulated, as for instance, by the dampers 84, 85 and 88, these dampers being `independently rotatable into a more or less dampening position .by means of the exterior handles 81 operating over a sector 88 arranged in conjunction with the handle to hold the handle at any adjusted position.

While I have referred heretofore to a depressed pocket 31 being formed at the discharge end of each deck, I wish it particularly understood that the form of this pocket maybe varied in many ways and in Figures 8 to 11, I show four different ways in which this pocket may be formed. In -Figure 8, the pocket 31 isl formed by a downward inclination of the extremity of the curved deck. In lFigure 9, the pocket 31a is formed by depressing the discharge end of the deck and then extending it horizontally. In Figure 10, the pocket 81h -is formed as a downward depression of the deck, Y the outer wall of the pocket then rising upward toward the gate. In Figure 11, the vpocket is not definitely distinguished from the deck' but constitutes a practically. straight continuation of the deck. 'I'his last named pocket or reservoir is'suitable for an even ilow 'oil-refuse' of small amount. That form of the pocket shown in Figure 8 is suitable for a continuous .large amount of rejectionand its lformation is extremely helpful in working the'coal out of the slate because of the heavier down-grade push and the consequent squeezing eiect. The pocket shown in Figure 9 is particularly suitable where the refuse comes down the deck in surges, sometimes more and sometimesless and of a heavy specific gravity 4while the `pocket 31h' shown in Figure- 10 ,isf suitablev where only va small amount of rejection is maintained and where the coal is in 'fine `particles 4having a maximum 'diameter of approximately oneeighth of an inch.

While I do not Wish to be limited to this, I have illustrated the eccentric shaft 2| as being driven by a belt or sprocket chain 89 from the motor shaft 90 of a motor'l, the shaft of which extends into; .the irst power transmission mechanism contained within ther casing 62,. It

is again reiterated that, I do not wishvto be,`

limited to the number of fans used. I have illustrated two fan casings, the ilr'st of which is connected to the rst compartment A while lto `the first decky of the series or to any other porating all desirable slopes.

,inultiple machine.

one of the series'` for retreatment. This refuse of the final deck is not as free from coal as the refuse from the other decks which yield pure refuse because it represents the overiiow surges of the other decks and at times there may he no refuse left from them andthe ilnal gate will discharge coal. By `always carrying the coal from the last gate of the deckLA back for treatment, a perfect refuse can be maintained and also a clean coal can'be secured.

Where the coal is comparatively free from dust, a single fan may be used to operate a Thisis also true where the quantity to be rejected is small.

It is also to be understood that'I may use variable speed motorsv forlthe fans to control the amount of air which is forced up through eachA deck or I `may' control the force of this air by means of dampers or dampers may be used in connection with a variable speed motor for the fan or fans or a constant speed motor may be used for all of the fans with selective speed mechanism.

It will be seen that I have provided a coal cleaner with a vibrating deck or decks incoradvantage of a'steep slope which quickly thins the tonnage at the feed and the advantage of a flatter slope which affords a more complete cleaning. These two slopes and the intermediate slopes are incorporated in a unit which gives results unequaled in separation. This slope. which is in the form of a curved surface with the steepest portion at the feed end and its ilattest portion at the discharge end, secures a uniform flotation without obstruction to the flow of the air such as adjustable or stationary valves, screens or sandwiched grammes of material between two screens. The maintaining of a freely owing and comparatively unhindered velocity of air before it strikes the coal bed makes the nature of the bed practically thes'ole controlling means whereby the desired pressure is held back to maintain `a continued notation. I thus secure a more thoroughly self-regulating notation which automatically adapts itself to changes of the bed such as moisture content, percentages of fines, amount of rejection and fracture varlationsof the particles;

.bar 4|' as shown in Figure 5 so that the spacing from the decking maybe varied.

These bars retard the coal, thereby giving the slate time in which to sink without sweeping 1t on with the downward sweep of the tonnage. The bars do not retard the. travel of the settled refuse which is traveling down beneath 'the bars but the bars make it possible to maintain a bed of predete' ined depth. This is of advantage in that the t nnest possible bed which will hold back enough pressure and velocityfto place the coal in a state of' flotation secures the eleanest results.. This is obvious because a piece of slate will much more readily drop through a thin bed than a thicker one.

It will be seen that I have provided a cleaner -Iwhich discharges its refuse through a mechanically 'operated gate at the discharge end of the cleaning surface. This gate inv conjunction with the refuse reservoir or pocket formed immediately in advance of it. is so operated at stated in- Thus I secure the l -terval between dumpings ismade possible by using a conventional speed change mechanism for operating' the gates. I thus provide a controllable method of reject removal'which is entirely positive and reliable, capable of producing a clean refuse without regard to clean or Vdirty surges of raw material. Obviously the raw material will vary largely with relation to the raw feed ash encountered because this raw feed ash.

will come from different mines or sections.

It is particularly important that in my construction I give a motion of diminishing magnitude to the several tables-or decks. This acts in conjunction with the slope of degreasing grade so as to secure a particularly good cleaning result grading from a live and active application ofpower to a very gentle treatment and it is obvious that what is true of the series of decks is also true of any one deck, that its feed end is given a larger amplitude of vibration than .its dischargeend.. By giving Va motion of diminishing magnidiminishing slant, all kinds of refuse of various sizes mustA sink at their ideal condition for settlement. y

My cleaner is so constructed as to enable a multiple number of units to be made into one unit, thus affording a recleaning effect with comparatively small iloor space and operationcost, and a successful recleaning of coal after its first treatment with air is madeeasy because this recleaned coal is no 4longer impregnated with fine dust which acts to seal the bed. In my machinathe first treatment dedusts thecoal on a comparativelysmall surface and requires comparatively little air. This is an economical advantage because the collection of this dust isa vital factor in overhead'costs.- A different condition lexists after the dust has been blown ofl' the coal and where only single decks are used and the coall is being treated by only one fan. .Under these circumstances,

as with my construction, the pressure volume and velocity of the air used in connection with one deck may be varied from the pressure velocity and volume of air as used for the other deck.

By the provision of a plurality of decks, coal. of

comparatively' high moisture content may be treated successfully because the initial treatment of theJ series removes thegreatest 'amount-of.

, tude and acting 1n conjunctionwith a slope Vci only a compromise treatment is possible, whereremoves the obiectional damp dust while the sucrefuse material relievesthe other decks of a proportionate amount of wear.

Another advantage in nLvconstruction resides inthe fact that it impartslitle shock to a vtriple structure. Actual practice has shown Athat a vibrating mechanism constructed as in my machine produces a barely perceptible reaction.

Furthermoral have provided a cleaner capawould be destroyed. With my cleaner, the process may be repeated a suiiicient number of times until the product is successfully cleaned. In oth- Y er words, I may use any number of decks which may be desired.

I have demonstrated by test of this cleaner that machine cuttingsof about twenty per cent ash will become a commercial product. These cuttings are ordinarily thrown away and many mines employing many men and which would otherwise be a valuable lasset to industry cannot protably operate because of their inability to cope with this problem.

While in many instances I have not found it necessary, yet in some circumstances, it is best to check the action ofthe spring l5 upon the corresponding gate by means of a dash pot or pneumatic, or hydraulic check of any usual -or suitable construction. I have illustrated this check generally in Figure 2 and designated it 55a.

It is to be understood that Ido not wish to be limited to any particular curvature for the deck sections 3l, 35 and 36 except as this may be stated vin the accompanying cl'aims. In actual practice,

I have used a deck curvature struck on a radius of 100 inches for a twenty-four inch deck. The curvature of the deck is regular but the center of curvature is so placed toward the discharge end that its tangent at the highvend makes an eight degree angle to the horizontal and the tangent makes a four degree angle to the horizontal at the low end. It will be understood,

. however, that the lengths of the radius will be changed depending upon the length of the deck.'

The plate attached to each of the arms 58 which operate thegates can be adjusted to change the length of-time of the wiping engagement with the corresponding cam 6| without alteringthe shape of the cam. When the plate is shifted rearward on the arm 58 to its shortest position,

the point of the cam will trip the gate when it stands vertically downward. By sliding the plate 60 out as far as it lwill go, the point of the cam will trip at an angle far, beyond the vertical, the closing action of the gate beginning at the time of tripping..

By this adjustment, l.' can secure any desired ratio of open and closed position for the gate. I

can have a fifty per cent open and a ii'fty per cent time closed period or a twenty-five per cent open and a seventy-five iper cent closed period.

I find that with a twenty-five per cent open and a seventy-five per centy closed ratio, the refuse concentration is thereby favored and theresult is remarkably improved. Ob'viously the cam 6| could be changed in shape to give this result, but

` claims.

4or by the cam 6|,.it would not be possible to discharge pure refuse from so small a reservoir as I must use. The. gate is adjustable vertically, that is, the lower edge of each gate 49 is provided with the adjustable member '5| and is necessary in order to adjust the depth of bed in conjunction with the transversely extending bars. 'I'he deck may be made of perforated metal or of reticulated or Awoven wire, and any number of perforations per square inch or the mesh will depend upon the work to be done.

It is to be noted that the eccentric 22 is vboth vertical and longitudinal oscillation to thedeck andthe tossing motion thus secured I find is very necessary. A

While I have illustrated certain details of construction and certain specific arrangements of parts, I do not wish to be limited to these details as it isobvious that many changes might be made in thesedetails without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended I do not wish to be limited to the linkage used for the gate mechanism as it is obvious that the gate may be opened or closed by other mechanism than that shown, cr, in other words,

it is the provision of discharge gates for the refuse which open intermittently that is one of the points of this invention and not the specific means whereby these gates are intermittently opened.

The slant -of the deck or sections of the deck is an extremely, important matter -because the degree of this slant determines the ease of ow and the ease of cw in turn determines the force with which the air holds the particles in suspension. If the surface of the deck is horizontal, the air will exert adirect force and as the slant increases the lifting force of the air correspondingly decreases because the coal and culm slip away easier. Since the slope varies the lifting force, it affects the separation. Since the exact degree of lift required to float the coal without oating the slate is always a matter of experiment and can only be accomplished with the vcorrect slope for a definite qualityof coal, it follows that any arbitrary slope cannotv be correctly predetermined because the coal constantly varies'and an arbitrary fixed slant at one particular angle would not vary with all the variance present under operating conditions. The refuse to be removed is not all one kind and this refuse constantly varies. There will be sandstone, slate, clay and matter of entirely different characteristics and sizes, all of which have different tendencies with respect to flotation. Sometimes, the refuse is fiat and floats easily on top of the mass. This, of course, is entirely undesirable. Sometimes the coal is relatively heavy and needs more lair tol keep it,buoyed up but it is not likely, once it is up, to sink down throughthe slate provided the treatment surface helps it to remain up. My

Itreatment surface provides a deck or series of4 v'decks which varies gradually in its slant or pitch;`

Preferably. this ,variation is from 40 to 12, which presents a surface'at some point along its length of correct slant. In my deck, the slant is continually but gradually varied and thus the instant the coal mixture passes over the correct point, that is, a point having the correct I slant, it is cleaned because the lifting at vthis point is just correct to raise the coal and not raise the slate. 'I'he deck, therefore, must gradually and smoothly vary its amount of slant.

The tendency of`-a highly inclined slope not constantly varying in its slant is to let the air 4pass through or pipe through with excessive blowing at the entry end. This breaks up flotation. This is because the mixture changes as' it progresses and the slope must also change to keep a lifting effect in proportion to the mixture.

Generally speaking, my invention includes decks having all degrees of slope such as are necessaryfor the forward travel of the material and itseiective cleaning, each slope having its Work to do. 'Ihis secures a smooth flotation and cleaning effect without the necessity of manipulating any valves or providing power consuming obstructions. As before stated, the intermittently operated gates'49 are extremely important features in my invention. It is known to provide gates which are adjusted to the size coal to. be passed, as

for instance, coal ranging from one-half inch to a very small grain. With a gate which is open constantly to permit the passage of half inch coal, it isf impossible. to keep the refuse pure because the refuse drains away from beneath the coal itself too fast. An amount of refuse, therefore, must be held back so, as to keep the coal from draining away with the refuse. By my invention,'the gate is closed atpredetermined period which holds the refuse back, then the gate is openedfor a predetermined period, and the refuse is carried off but lWithout draining the coal because the gate closes before the coal on top of the refuse can be drained and it will be seen that with my construction, the length of time that the fgates are held closed and the length of time they are held open may be varied and it will likewise be seen that each gate may be held open or closed a length of time differing from the timing of any other gate.

I claim:-

1. A coal cleaner including a pervious deck disposed at Ia gradually decreasing slant from its entrance to its discharge end, baille rods extending at intervals transversely above the deck, in spaced relation thereto, the series o! baille rods following the contour of the deck, means for discharging `air upwardly through the deck,

.and means for oscillating the deck, the pivotal center of oscillation being relatively adjacent thedischarge end of the deck.

2. A coal cleaner including a body having lateral walls, a pervious deck disposed between said walls, the deck being disposed at a gradually decreasing slant from its entrance to its discharge end, a series of baille rods extending transversely across the deck but in spaced relation thereto, and following the contour of the deck, and means for individually adjusting said bame rods includving members adjustably engaging the'. walls of 3. A coal 4cleaner including a body having latbetween said walls and discharging one upon the other, each of said decks being disposed at a gradually decreasing slant from its entrance to its discharge end, means f or discharging air upwardly through said decks, and means for giving Ito all of -said decks,,oscillatlons of an amplitude gradually .decreasing froinjhe entrance the other,l the decks receiving kraw feed` at one end and discharging cleaned coal at the other.

end, the decks being pervious and `each deck beeral walls, a series of pervious decks disposed,

ing disposed at a gradually decreasing slant from itsentrance to its discharge end, means for giving to the series of. decks, vertical and longitudinal oscillations of an' amplitude decreasing from the entrance end of the rst deck ofjthe series 4 5 to the discharge end of the last deck of the series, means lfor forcing air upward through the `several decks, and -means for discharging refuse from the discharge end of each deck of the sexies. f

5. A coal cleaner including a series of rigidly connected and successive decks receiving raw feed at one end and discharging cleaned coal at the other, each deck being pervious and being disposed at a gradually decreasing slant from its entrance end to its discharge end, a refuse chute at thedischarge end of ea'ch deck, a valve extending above the deck and controlling the discharge into said chute, power operated means for intermittently opening each valve, a coal 20 charging air upward through the several decks. j

6. A coal cleaner including a plurality of decks 25 arranged in a rigidly connected series, receiving raw feed `at onev end and discharging cleaned coal at the other, each deck being pervious and being disposed at a gradually decreasing slant 4from its entrance to its discharge end, refuse chutes disposed at the discharge end of each deck, a gate controlling the passage of refuse to each chute, each gate extending above the discharge. end of the corresponding deck and being mounted for swinging movement away from the deck, means for intermittently opening said gates, said means permitting the independent timing of the gates, a coal chute extending over the top of each Agate and discharging downward on to the next successive deck of, the series, and independently controllable means for discharging air upward through the several decks.

7. A coal cleaner including a body having side walls and a series of successive decks rigidly engaged with the side walls, said decks being pervious and each deck being disposed on a gradually decreasing slant from its entrance to its discharge end, means for discharging refuse from the discharge end of each deck, means for carrying coal from the discharge end of each deck over on to the entrance end of' the next successive deck, means for discharging air 'upwardly through the several decks and independently controlling the velocity or pressure of the air for each deck, a supporting frame, laterally disposed elements'rigidly connected to the side walls of tliebody andI being pivotally supported upon said supporting frame at a point below the discharge end of the body, an eccentric supported upon the supporting frame, eccentric straps coacting with the eccentric and operatively connected to said elements, the eccentric straps being connectedto the ends of the elements adjacentA the entrance `end of the body, and means for driving` saideecentric.

8. A coal cleaner of the character described including a body having side walls, a series of decks disposed between and rigidly connected to the side walls, the decks being pervious and-the discharge end of one deck being spaced from the entrance end of the next succeeding deck, each deck being vdisposed, on a gradually decreasing slant from its entrance to its discharge "end, channel members, main refuse chutes rigidly connected to the side walls ofI the body, a supporttrolling the passage of refuse into "the discharge chutes, coal chutes extending over the top of the gates and extending downward on to the entrance end of the next successive deck, power operated means for intermittently -opening and closing the several gates, the power operated means for each gate being independently controllable, means for discharging air upward through said several decks, and independently controlling the pressure and velocity foreach deck, and means for maintaining a bed of refuse upon each deck and a superincumbent bed of coal upon each deck and comprising a series of transverse baille bars extending-transversely across above the deck and in predetermined spaced relation thereto and to each other. Y

9. A coal cleaner, including a body having side walls, a series of pervious decks disposed between the side walls and receiving raw feedat one end and discharging cleaned coal at the other, the discharge end of one deck being spaced from the receiving end of the next successive deck, each deck being disposed on a gradually decreasing slant from its entrance to its discharge end, each deck adjacent its discharge' end being formed to lprovide a refuse detaining pocket, a swinging gate at the discharge end of each deck and extending above the deck and controlling the discharge of refuse therefrom, means for intermittently opening said gates, a chute extending over the top of each gate and4 downward to receiving end of the next succeeding deck, baille bars extending transverselyacross above each deck and disposed in predetermined spaced relation to the tain a bed of coal above the bars 'and a bed of deck and following the contour thereof, those bars above the refuse'pocket being disposed divergently with relation thereto whereby to mainre'fuse below the bars,'means for controllably discharging air upward through each deck, the air cortrolling means. for one deck being independently adjustable with `relation to the air controlling means of any other. deck, and' means for oscillating said body and the decks, said mea-hs giving tothedecks and body a gradually decreasing oscillation from the entrance end of the body to the discnargeend thereof.

10. A vcoal cleaner including a pervious deck having a gradually varying slant from its entrance toits discharge end, bame rods extending at intervals transversely above the deck in spaced relation thereto,'the baille rods following the contour of the deck, means for discharging air upwardly through the deck, and means forgiv -ing the deck an oscillatory movement of-graduall! decreasing amplitude toward its discharge end. 11. In a coal cleaner, a series of downwardly inclined pervious deck sections, means forv discharging air upwardly through the deck sections toL float the light coal and permit the heavy refuse -to sink on to the decksections, transversely extending spacedt bars disposed immediately above deck sectionand approximately conforming'in inclination thereto and acting to in supporting the coalabove the refuse and permit.

the refuse 'to sink between the bars, means for discharging air upward through'the deck SBC- tions to iioat the light coal and permit the heavy refuse to sink, a refuse gate at the discharge end of each deck section, means extending over the gate for guiding the coal over-said gate and on to the entrance end of the next succeeding section, means for intermittently lifting and closing saidgates, and means co'acting with each gate whereby the time that it remains lifted and remains closed m'ay be' independently.varied.

. 12; A coal cleaner includinga pervious'deck disposed at-a constantly varying slant from its entrance to its discharge end, an air trunk exwtending directly downward from the deck and having the same cross-sectional area as the deck. means for discharging air upwardly through the trunk and the deck, a series of rods extending at intervals transversely above the deck and in spaced relation thereto, the series of rods approximately following the contour 'of the deck and means for giving the deck an oscillatory movement in a vertical plane.

25 13. A coal cleaner of the character described,

comprising apervious deck disposed at an inclination downwardly from its entrance to itsdis'- charge end, walls'disposed at opposite sides of the deck and projecting above the same, a pair of angle bars disposed against the inner side of each walland extending longitudinally of the deck and each having an angular portion extending inwardly from'the wall,"a plurality'of rod members disposed in spaced parallel relation .transversely ofi the same and attached at their ends to the adjacent vinwardly extending angle bar portions, means connecting said angle bars "with the walls facilitating the vertical'adjustment of .the bars thereon relative to the deck, an air trunk extending downwardly from the under side v of the deck, and means for discharging air up- ,-through the trunk against a .bed of coal resting on said bars overV the deck.

14. Inv a coal cleaner of the, character descri inclination from its entrance to its discharge end, an air trunk extending downwardly from the under side of thedeck, means for discharging airA upwardly through the trunk against a bedof coal disposedpver the deck, means for oscillating the deck, a refuse chute disposed. across the dis- 'charge endof the deck, a shaft extending trans l versely of the deck in spaced vrelation with and at the discharge end ofthe same, a refuse gate com-` prising a plate having an edge portion attached to saidshaft and extending1 downwardly toward the adjacent plate, the shaft and plate. being oscillatable forthe discharge of refuse from the deck into the chute, means for carrying coal a pervious deck disposed at a downward over the gate 'and refuse chute, comprising a plate extendingctransversely ofthedeck and across the chute ata downward inclination from said shaft, said last plate being' attached along one edge to the shaft,- supporting means for said 'shaft at each end of the'same and adapted t'o facilitate the raising or lowering ofthe same together with the tioned plate attached .jthereto,'and means for intermittentlyf ting tle gate. j

ALWYN o. orar.`

refuse gate andthe lastmen' above and in .spaced relation with the deck andr 

